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Hi everyone, I am in the market for a new driver, and I think I have settled on the Cleveland Hi-Bore XL. My delimma is choosing the correct loft, seeing that I have a pretty slow swing speed. I am very tall (6'2), and weigh a whopping 135, with virtually no upper body strength. I am sure I need a regular flex shaft, but would I benefit more from a 9.5 degree or 10.5 degree in my situation? Thanks.

According to a table from The Search for the Perfect Golf Club by Tom Wishon, the ideal driver loft to maximize carry distance for each of the below swing speeds (based on a swing angle of attack of +2.5 degrees as the average golfer has a slight upward angle of attack with the driver) is as follows:

60mph - loft of 19* for a carry distance of 122yds
70mph - loft of 19* for a carry distance of 156yds
80mph - loft of 13* for a carry distance of 185yds
90mph - loft of 13* for a carry distance of 213yds
100mph - loft of 10* for a carry distance of 236yds
110mph - loft of 9* for a carry distance of 257yds

loft is just part of the equation. the shaft matters a lot as well, and your swing matters a great deal too. the only way you can find out is to get fitted. i got fitted, and i ended up with a 9* TEE w/stock Fujikura HL shaft, 55g, R flex (though i also carry a 10.5* TEE w/ stock Graphic Design YS Exotics shaft, S flex for when i want to hit it straighter). i don't swing hard at all, low 90's w/ driver. i hit my 9* TEE plenty high, though admittedly i have not had it checked for its true loft. i hit the 10.5* even higher, to the point where it balloons sometimes and i lose distance. the TEE has an exceptionally low CG, however, and both shafts i have in them are mid/low kickpoint. my avg drive is around 220-225 carry.

I completely agree with all posts on getting fitted. I believe the shaft is the more important piece of the puzzle in getting the maximum distance from your swing. All the loft in the world wouldn't do any good without a proper shaft.

Loft and SS don't directly relate. There shouldn't be charts IMO. I am around 108ss with 10.5* and an X flex. I get the same general ball flight as some with 100ss and 9*. Spin and all the stuff that go into fitting create WAY too many factors.

I'd try different lofts and see which works best for you. I use a HiBore XL 10.5* with the red Fujikura shaft in stiff flex. 2 months ago my SS was 92 and my avg carry was 180, that was right when I made the switch from persimmon drivers to the new ones. Now my avg carry is about 240-245 using the same driver with no changes to it.

Get fitted! I have a swing speed on ~105, but play an 8.5* with an S shaft. This is because I tend to add loft at impact by hitting up on the ball. Compare that to a lot of the tour players with 110+ SS and driver lofts of 9.5* - 10.5*. It all depends on how you swing. Not only that, but the shaft has a very significant effect on the shot. Different shafts will produce radically different effects on the ball given the same clubhead. It's not as simple as just picking a driver loft and flex based on SS.

I agree with other posts. These charts are really only starting points. Everyone really needs to get fit, get on a launch monitor, and demo the clubs outdoors to watch actual ball flight. I am relatively slow swinger (90 mph driver) but have a shallow swing that catches the ball on the upswing. I tried 10.5 degr drivers since that is what all the "charts" said but hit them way too high - especially playing in Texas winds and on hard fairways like I do. I got fit by a Ping rep on a launch monitor and the answer was definitely a 9 degree (something my eyes had already told me on the driving range). I don't know the actual loft on my driver but based on everything I have read it is probably around 10 since most manufacturers build them with more loft than stated.

I would recommed an out door fitting session. For optimal distance you want the highest launch with out ballooning. I would try a 13 with a stiff actually or a 10.5 reg. I swing around 115 and play a 10.5 with an X flex. I am getting great lauch with the 10.5 but i needed an X flex to negate the balloon effect. The reason for an out door session is since everyones angle of attack is different you want to be out door to judge ballooning.

Loft and SS don't directly relate. There shouldn't be charts IMO. I am around 108ss with 10.5* and an X flex. I get the same general ball flight as some with 100ss and 9*. Spin and all the stuff that go into fitting create WAY too many factors.

Agreed. I've got a 107-108mph. SS and use a 9.5* with a mid/low launch stiff tip stiff shaft. Launch angle is up there and I don't put excessive spin on the ball. 8.5* drivers and LCG 9.5* heads usually die out on me, drop like a rock. If I went to an LCG head I'd go up to a 10.5*.

FWIW I hit the XL on a monitor and out on the course/range for demo. The 9.5* was very low spin with the red shaft. At the time I put the XL/Fuji Red Stiff up against an R510TP 9.5* w/Speeder 757X flex. I was at 2300-2400 spin and a 9-10* launch with the XL. With the R510 I was at 12.8-13.2 and 2800-3000 spin.

Really depends on angle off attack, my friend is a 4hcap, about same ss as me at around 112-115 and he uses an 11* i15 which he bombs very low, he has a really descending blow, i hit my 8.75* d3 a tad higher than his!!

Swing speed v diver loft dont correlate well, but angle of attack v driver loft does. If you have a steep angle of attack youre going to want a higher loft to offset the 'negative' degree of your swing.

That being said its all about the dozen of factors in each individual's swing. Echo the get fitted comment, they'll take the whole picture into account and match you to something in your price range. Best thing I ever did for my golf game.

I have a negative angle of attack. I hit the ball low with too much spin. In an effort to increase carry i ordered a 12 degree cleveland classic 290 with a stiff prolaunch red to control spin. 110 swing speed. I hope it works.

I think ball placement in your stance is a under looked factor. I play the ball far up in my stance so I play a 9* with a swing speed between 95-100 mph. If you play the ball back in your stance you might want to play a higher lofted driver.

I think ball placement in your stance is a under looked factor. I play the ball far up in my stance so I play a 9* with a swing speed between 95-100 mph. If you play the ball back in your stance you might want to play a higher lofted driver.

Just my suggestion.

This is great cuase maybe the OP can let us know how things worked out 4 years ago. Let's keep it going til he shows up.

I know this is an old thread but I stumbled on two trackman driver fitting charts. One had numbers optimized for carry (typically more loft) and the other chart was optimized for total yards carry and roll (lower loft). I can't upload here cuz I'm on an iPhone at the moment. But interesting info to google if anyone was curious.

I know this is an old thread but I stumbled on two trackman driver fitting charts. One had numbers optimized for carry (typically more loft) and the other chart was optimized for total yards carry and roll (lower loft). I can't upload here cuz I'm on an iPhone at the moment. But interesting info to google if anyone was curious.

I know this is an old thread but I stumbled on two trackman driver fitting charts. One had numbers optimized for carry (typically more loft) and the other chart was optimized for total yards carry and roll (lower loft). I can't upload here cuz I'm on an iPhone at the moment. But interesting info to google if anyone was curious.

I know this is an old thread but I stumbled on two trackman driver fitting charts. One had numbers optimized for carry (typically more loft) and the other chart was optimized for total yards carry and roll (lower loft). I can't upload here cuz I'm on an iPhone at the moment. But interesting info to google if anyone was curious.

Could you post it later?

I'm busy googling Lauren Thompson bikini

Lol. Will do.

...Thats says "dynamic loft" and has little to do with the number stamped on the sole (and THAT has little to do with the actual loft)

If youre a shut faced player, or you deloft at the moment of truth then these one-sized fits all charts about speed vs loft are worthless

I have a callaway razr x driver r flex at 9.5 degree I swing 102 mph with on purpose at flushed get 265 carry. I have a cobra s 8.5 s flex and get same carry at 107 mph with more roll out. I was trying a aeroburner today with an uber r flex swinging 112 mph and got one to carry 285 yards with a moon ball flight.